New Children's Books | August 2023

A few highlights from this month's children's book order, with commentary from Miss Barratt! Book format and suggested age ranges are included for each book.
Updated August 30, 2023
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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God Is Kind
Calloway-Hanauer, Jamie
Paper Book
The perfect Christian board book for little ones--celebrating God's love through kindness, animals, and gentle rhymes. From soft feathered wings to grand acts of care, God Is Kind shows little ones how God's love surrounds them--quietly, beautifully, and always. Designed especially for...

We get lots of requests for Christian-themed kids books, this one is a great option for the littlest readers in your life. (Board Book, Ages 0-3)

Bath time physics
Esbaum, Jill
Paper Book
Splish, splash! Prepare to experience the forces of physics at work. It's time for Baby's bath . . . Ooh! We made a waterfall . . . Invite your tubby-time friends to join in. Even Einstein started somewhere, so who's to say your little...

If you've read your way through Baby Loves Science and Storytelling Math series, MIT (yes, that MIT) has a new board book for you to try. (Board Book, Ages 0-3)

What matters most
Dodd, Emma
Paper Book
A young horse discovers that whatever our differences, love connects us all. What matters most of all to you? What matters most to me? Let's take a look around us, and maybe we will see. A small horse and a large horse celebrate their unconditional love in a...

Emma Dodd's books about baby animals and their parents make great bedtime books! Bonus, the rhyme can be sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" so it does double duty as a lullaby. (Board Book, Ages 0-3)

Llama Llama's little lie
Duncan, Reed
Paper Book
Llama Llama learns a lesson in telling the truth in this new book in the bestselling Llama Llama series. When Llama Llama accidentally breaks Mama Llama's favorite picture frame, he decides to tell a little lie about how it happened. In the end, Llama Llama learns a powerful...
New Llama Llama! IYKYK (Picture Book, Age 2-6)
Let's Read Animal Words
Lee, Ji.
Paper Book
A creative and fun picture book about the world's most beloved animals! Meet four-legged, two-finned, and webbed-toe friends in this word-as-image introduction to the animal world, chock-full of interesting facts. In what looks like a simple image, there lies a fully formed...

Such an interesting concept! I love the combo of picture riddles, letter knowledge, and facts about animals. (Picture Book, Age 2-6)

Problem solved!
Thomas, Jan
Paper Book
Rabbit hopes Pete the Problem-Solving Porcupine can get her out of a bind only to wind up with more issues than she started with in this hilarious and relatable picture book. Rabbit has a problem! Her room is a mess. Luckily, Pete the Problem-Solving Porcupine shows up just in...

A new book from Jan Thomas, author of Is Everyone Ready for Fun? aka the greatest storytime book of all time. (Picture Book, Age 2-6)

Carina Felina
Deedy, Carmen Agra
Paper Book
Carmen Agra Deedy, New York Times bestselling author and one of Scholastic's most talented and cherished storytellers, retells a hilarious folktale set in Havana, Cuba. Illustrated by the brilliant, award-winning artist, Henry Cole. "This fun folktale will delight readers...

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly meets Martina the Beautiful Cockroach in this Cuban folktale about a greedy cat who won't stop eating her neighbors...starting with her handsome suitor, Pepe the parrot. (Picture Book, Age 2-6)

Try a bite, trilobite
Fenske, Jonathan
Paper Book
A picky eater learns how delicious it can be to try something new in this laugh-out-loud Level 1 Ready-to-Read from two-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor recipient Jonathan Fenske! Bug wants to share his snack with Trilobite, but Trilobite only likes noodles...until he takes...
Picky eaters and wordplay with Jonathan Fenske, one of my favorite authors of funny entry-level readers. (Easy Reader Level 1)
Styx and Scones in the Cracked Crystal: Ready-To-Read Graphics Level 2
Cooper, Jay.
Paper Book
Witches' pets Styx and Scones chase down a crystal ball in this second book in the Styx and Scones Level 2 Ready-to-Read Graphics series! Styx the cat and Scones the dog live with two friendly witches. When the witches are out, the pets play fetch with their crystal ball. Then it...

New easy reader graphic novel, love the wordplay in the title! (Easy Reader Level 3)

A horse named Sky
Parry, Rosanne
Paper Book
A stand-alone companion to the acclaimed national bestsellers A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild. Exiled from his band, a young, wild horse must find his way across treacherous terrain to reunite with his family after being captured for the Pony Express. A fast...

Horse books are usually a big "YES!" around here, but a horse book by Oregon author Roseanne Parry (who also wrote A Wolf Called Wander)?! I'll take three, please and thank you. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Cupcake Catastrophe
Fosberry, Jennifer/ Pate, Shiho (ILT)
Paper Book
Best friends Chi-Chi the chicken and Pey-Pey the penguin both want the same cupcake in the second book in this sweet Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics series about celebrating differences! Chi-Chi and Pey-Pey are excited when they get cupcakes at snack time, but there is only one...

Another new easy reader graphic novel, perfect for kids who are still learning to read and feel frustrated with how long the process is taking. (Easy Reader Level 2)

Your One and Only Heart
Larocca, Rajani/ Conrad, Lauren Paige (ILT)
Paper Book
A lyrical introduction to the many wonders of the human heart, from award-winning author and practicing doctor, Dr. Rajani LaRocca In this stunning non-fiction picture book, poetry and science come together with playful cut-paper illustrations to create a moving ode to the human...
The world of children's literature is so lucky to have an author like Rajani Larocca! Not only is she an award-winning author of picture books and novels in verse, she's a doctor who uses her writing skills to explain how different parts of the human body work in kid-friendly language. (Children's Nonfiction Age 5-8)
The lost library
Stead, Rebecca
Paper Book
Now a New York Times bestseller and a #1 Indie Bestseller, readers won't want to miss this story of a little free library guarded by a cat, and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps. A TODAY SHOW Kids' Read Pick! * The Amazon #1 Best Book for Kids * "A...

From Newbery Award-winning author Rebecca Stead comes a(nother) modern classic about a magical Little Free Library. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Jerry Changed the Game! : How Engineer Jerry Lawson Revolutionized Video Games Forever
Tate, Don/ Harris, Cherise (ILT)
Paper Book
Junior Library Guild Selection | Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Honor | CBC Best STEM Book List | Mathical Book Prize Honor | BCALA Youth Literary Nonfiction Award | Communication Arts Illustration Shortlist Meet Jerry Lawson, the Black engineer who revolutionized the video...

More video game content for the hardcore gamers out there with a bonus helping of science & history. (Children's Nonfiction Age 5-8)

Dawn of the light dragon
West, Tracey
Paper Book
In the latest action-packed installment of this New York Times bestselling series, Drake must find the brilliant Light Dragon! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With...

New Dragon Masters! 'Nuff said. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

The absent alpacas
Whaley, Kayla
Paper Book
Solve Animal Mysteries from A to Z! Young clue hunters Abbi, Daniel, and Lydia sniff out the mystery behind a group of missing alpacas. Inspired by Ron Roy's beloved A to Z Mysteries series, this spin-off is perfect for budding young chapter-book readers--and future detectives!

A reboot of the classic A to Z Mysteries series, written by the founder of Disability in KidLit. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

Night of the Ninjas Graphic Novel
Osborne, Mary Pope
Paper Book
The #1 bestselling chapter book series is now available as graphic novels! Magic. Mystery. Time-travel. Get whisked away to ancient Japan and the time of ninjas with Jack and Annie! There's a whisper in the shadows, a silent warrior. It's a ninja! The magic tree house has...

Magic Treehouse launched a series of graphic novel adaptations last year, mirroring the original chapter books. (Bridging Graphic Novels Grades 2-4)

Fox has a problem
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
In his next I Can Read adventure, Fox--the hilarious trickster character featured in Geisel Award winners Fox at Night and Fox the Tiger--learns to solve a problem in an unexpected way. Fox has a problem: His kite is stuck in a tree! But every clever plan creates even more...
A new Fox book from award-winning author/illustrator Corey R. Tabor (Easy Reader Level 1)
Weird but True World 2024
National Geographic Kids (COR)
Paper Book
The blockbuster kid-favorite series Weird But True! is back with another annual volume of new, true, mind-blowing oddities for 2024 ... and beyond! Discover Earth's strangest natural wonders, animals, festivals, ancient architecture, news, and more in this annual compendium of...

300+ pages of brand new Weird But True! content for the trivia-obsessed kids in your life who've read every other book in the series at least twice. (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-12)

My head has a bellyache : more nonsense for mischievous kids and immature grown-ups
Harris, Chris
Paper Book
This hilarious follow-up to the New York Times bestselling poetry book I'm Just No Good at Rhyming is full of surprising twists of wit and wordplay that will have readers rolling on the floor laughing! "Highly recommended...

Just read a librarian review that says this is better than Shel Silverstein (!!!) (Children's Nonfiction Age 6-12)

Move It Or Lose It!
Peirce, Lincoln.
Paper Book
A new comics collection featuring Big Nate, the star of the bestselling book series and the Emmy-nominated animated TV series. With all your favorite characters providing laughs on every page, this all-new collection of Big Nate comics means business! What's...

New Big Nate! (Children's Graphic Novels Grades 3-5)

Stuntboy, in-between time
Reynolds, Jason
Paper Book
From Newbery Medal honoree and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes the sequel to the hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed middle grade novel Stuntboy, in the Meantime about the greatest young superhero you've never heard of, jam-packed with illustrations by...

Follow up to award-winning author Jason Reynolds' Stuntboy series. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Stinetinglers 2: 10 MORE New Stories from the Master of Scary Tales
Stine, R. L.
Paper Book
From R.L. Stine, the master of horror for young readers, comes ten new stories that are sure to send a shiver down your spine. Two kids embark on a field trip to the zoo...and stumble upon a creature they never expected to meet. A boy makes a machine that puts kids in charge...but at...

More spooky short stories from the king of 90s horror paperbacks, R.L. Stine. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The Secret Sisters
Avi
Paper Book
Newbery medalist Avi tells the story of a young girl determined to define her own place amidst old rules and new ways in the Roaring Twenties. Attending high school in Steamboat Springs is Ida Bidson's dream--it's her next step toward becoming a teacher and her best...
In 1925, young girl attends high school in rural Colorado in order to fulfill her dream of being a teacher. A great readalike for fans of Anne of Green Gables! (Young Teen Fiction Age 10-14)
Dust : a novel
Bowling, Dusti
Paper Book
"This book will save lives." --Beth Vrabel, award-winning author of The Newspaper Club series   In this unmissable story of friendship, courage, and healing, a girl struggling to breathe befriends a boy shrouded in dust, perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly...

A new book from OBOB favorite Dusty Bowling, who also wrote Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. (Young Teen Grades 5-7)

The Very Unfortunate Wish of Melony Yoshimura
Brown, Waka T.
Paper Book
In this magical and chilling Coraline-esque retelling of the Japanese folktale "The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku," one girl must save herself--and her loved ones--from a deceitful demon she befriended. Melony Yoshimura's parents have always been overprotective. They...

Creepy ghost story based on Japanese folklore by the Portland-based author of a recent OBOB title, While I Was Away. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

No One Leaves the Castle
Healy, Christopher
Paper Book
The Brothers Grimm meets Knives Out in this unexpected, hilarious, and wholly original fantasy-murder-mystery. The Lilac. The bard songs say that she's the world's most fearsome bounty hunter. That there's no criminal she can't catch, no mystery she can't solve. None...

If you've asked me for a family road trip audiobook recommendation, I've told you about Healy's The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom series. Same author + D&D-meets-Clue premise = a very excited children's librarian. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The Great Texas Dragon Race
Ritter, Kacy
Paper Book
Wings of Fire meets The Hunger Games in this debut contemporary middle grade fantasy stand-alone about thirteen-year-old Cassidy Drake, who enters the dangerous Great Texas Dragon Race to save her family's dragon sanctuary. Thirteen-year-old Cassidy Drake wants nothing more...

Honestly, the first line of the description says it all. If you've read every other dragon book we have, get in line; this one sounds like it's gonna be great! (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Two Tribes
Cohen, Emily Bowen
Paper Book
In her poignant debut graphic novel inspired by her own life, Emily Bowen Cohen embraces the complexity, meaning, and deep love that comes from being part of two vibrant tribes. Mia is still getting used to living with her mom and stepfather, and to the new role their Jewish...

I'm really curious about this one! Shines a light on an uncommon experience AND highlights some common ones like blended families and growing independence. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Ghost Book
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
* "An entertaining, engaging read with echoes of Miyazaki's film Spirited Away." --Horn Book, starred review An Indie Bestseller! An Amazon, School Library Journal, and Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year! Perfect for...

True story, July/August seems to be when all of the Halloween books come out. Bookmark this one for fall if you think you'll be in the mood for a ghost story based on Chinese mythology. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Mexikid
Martin, Pedro.
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER * An unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican American boy's family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico "One of those books that kids will pass to their friends as soon as they have finished it."-...

Librarians seem to be talking about this book nonstop! A graphic novel memoir about an epic family road trip a la Sisters by Raina Telegemeier. (Young Teen Graphic Novels Grades 5-7)

Vivian Lantz's second chances
Ormsbee, Kathryn
Paper Book
Groundhog Day meets Eighth Grade in this time-loop story set on the first day of school, from the critically acclaimed author of Candidly Cline. Vivian Lantz is cursed. Every year, terrible things happen on her first day of school. This year, Vivian has a plan to conquer...

Groundhog Day on the first day of middle school (yikes) starring an LGBTQ+ tween figuring out popularity, friendship, and her first crush(es). (Young Teen Fiction, Grades 5-7)


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